With the economy in flux and the job market stagnant, more and more people are considering ways to continue their education and set themselves apart in the marketplace. I provide insight on how individuals can succeed in this new economy. I'm founder and CEO of Stratus Prep, an internationally-recognized leader in law, business, and graduate school test preparation and admissions counseling. I also recently founded Stratus Careers, a comprehensive career counseling firm. With many years of experience and success, I provide personalized test preparation and admissions counseling to hundreds of law and business school applicants each year. Prior to launching Stratus Prep, I worked domestically and internationally for McKinsey & Company, Lehman Brothers, Mercer Management Consulting, and the Boston law firm of Sullivan & Worcester. I achieved my Masters in Business Administration with Highest Honors (Baker Scholar) from Harvard Business School and my Juris Doctor, cum laude from Harvard Law School. See reviews for Stratus Prep.

With Graduation Right Around the Corner, What's Next?

What are your plans after you move your tassel? (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This month, hundreds of thousands of college students across the country will make the exhilarating, yet daunting transition from student to graduate, and hopefully shortly thereafter to gainfully employed professional. If you are one of these soon-to-be graduates but still are not exactly sure what you will be doing the day, week, or month after graduation, here are five tips for professional success after college:

Perfect Your Resume & Cover Letter – You may have had your friends or family review your cover letter and resume previously, but now that you are seeking your first full-time position, it may be worthwhile to have a careers professional refine them even further so that they best represent you in the eyes of potential employers. You need to ensure that your resume and cover letter not only effectively communicate your accomplishments, but also differentiate you from other highly qualified candidates. Consider adding specific examples of how you have created significant value in any internships or summer positions; these are much more effective than simply listing your prior job responsibilities.

Set Up Informational Interviews – Go on as many “informational interviews” as you can by connecting with individuals who work at the companies you are targeting in your job search. You can use LinkedIn to search for such contacts in your friends’ networks; then ask your friends if they might be willing to do a personal introduction over email (this is far more effective than you just reaching out directly to the individual through LinkedIn). Be sure to use these interviews to learn more about the industry/company and to begin to build valuable relationships, not to try and land a job directly. Remember that the professionals who agree to meet with you are doing you a favor, so be sure to send thank-you notes after each meeting.

Do Not Turn Down Internships – You may have already done a handful of internships in college and think you are beyond that stage of your life, but in today’s economic reality, many savvy graduates are doing another internship after graduation. If an internship opportunity arises at a company where you would like to work, take it. You are getting your foot in the door, and if you continually excel at your work, you could easily be promoted to a full-time position when the next one opens up. Also, having an internship on your resume for six months after graduation is much better than having a six-month gap while you are looking for a job.

Consider Graduate School – Given the still sluggish employment market, now may be a smart time to seriously contemplate if graduate school is the appropriate next step for you. Graduate school shouldn’t be a path taken lightly or something to fall back on if you’re not sure what else to do. Rather, you should consider graduate school if you are passionate about a certain discipline, and if you need to further your education in that discipline to accomplish your professional goals. If you plan on starting graduate school in the fall of 2013, you need to start working on your standardized test preparation and applications as soon as possible, as the fall application season will be here before you know it.

Stay Positive – Searching for jobs, especially if some of your classmates are already employed, can be an extremely stressful and frustrating process. Above all else, you need to try to maintain a positive attitude, as employers can easily detect cynicism, frustration, or desperation. You can’t spend all day, every day applying for jobs, so fill some of your time with activities you love but may not have as much time for once you start working, like taking an extra class to enhance your skills, volunteering, or working out. These activities will help keep you balanced and in a better mood so you can put your best foot forward in networking situations and interviews.

To all 2012 graduates, I wish you the best of luck in the coming months.

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